Head Coach Sean McVay says punt returning will allow Kyren Williams another way to get touches, while the presence of Blake Corum and Ronnie Rivers led to the decision.
This isn’t a joke. The running back going as the RB8 ahead of Derrick Henry on Underdog will be the primary punt returner for the L.A. Rams- woof! Alarm bells regarding Williams’ 2024 fantasy production were raised when the Rams prioritized drafting Blake Corum in the 3rd round of the 2024 draft, and this latest report adds further risk that Williams won’t see a bellcow role in 2024 to justify his hefty price tag.
Blake Corum continues to be one of the most intriguing targets in 2024 fantasy drafts. Corum already posed huge potential contingent upside if Williams were injured, and returning punts will add to the likelihood Williams misses time during the 2024 season. This report also signals that McVay plans to have Corum involved in the offense even if Williams remains healthy. As it currently stands, fantasy managers should fade Williams and capitalize on the value of Blake Corum.
Los Angeles Rams running back Blake Corum has gotten early ...
Los Angeles Rams rookie Blake Corum could end up having ...
Los Angeles Rams rookie running back Blake Corum was listed...
The rookie running back Blake Corum continues to impress Sean McVay during minicamp.
Off-season mandatory mini camps are underway, and one rookie continues to stand out, Blake Corum. Corum is continuing to learn the offense and showing great maturity while taking advantage of the extra reps while teammate Kyren Williams is rehabbing his injury. Sean McVay has this to say about Corum, “On the offensive side, I have been pleased with a lot of guys, but Blake Corum has really stood out. (He is) Mature beyond his years. I love the way that he handles himself. I love even more how when there have been a couple of things that did not go the way we wanted, how he responded the next play. The mental toughness that you see from him. (RB Coach) Ron Gould is excellent with that room. Even (RB) Kyren (Williams) in his own way has done such a great job of imparting a certain amount of wisdom with him.”
A lot of folks were uncertain about Corum landing in LA as a fantasy football prospect. With the high praise and ethic he has put in, Corum has a chance to cement himself into the offense. Allowing him to have some redraft consideration as well as a strong dynasty running back for those looking for a steal or in their rookie drafts.
Los Angeles Rams lead running back Kyren Williams will be out until training camp with a foot injury, which has forced rookie Blake Corum into additional responsibilities during OTAs.
Corum’s fantasy stock will undoubtedly be on the rise with the news of Sean McVay asking him to further develop his game in terms of receiving and pass protection. Corum scored 27 rushing touchdowns last year at Michigan, so many experts expected him to potentially have a goal line role for the Rams following the 2024 NFL Draft. His fantastic collegiate production, 3rd round draft capital, along with these reports coming from OTAs officially vault Corum into “elite-handcuff” status, at a minimum.
The Rams have a tremendous offensive scheme that propelled Kyren Williams to be a top-7 ppr running back in 2023, which is especially extraordinary considering he only played in 12 games. Williams has a lack of size and elite athleticism that leave him more susceptible to injuries than your typical bell-cow, making his offseason best ball ADP of 22 seemingly high. Fantasy Managers can expect Williams to drop a bit in ADP while Corum rises.
Corum is an intriguing option in all formats and possesses high-end upside if Williams misses any time in the 2024 regular season.
Kyren Williams may receive fewer opportunities, particularly in the red zone.
The Los Angeles Rams selected Blake Corum in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Last season, Kyren Williams carried a heavy workload while being one of the most productive running backs in the league. Corum stood out as a player at Michigan and was a huge part of their championship culture.
Head Coach Sean McVay said in a conference after the NFL draft. “Obviously I love Kyren and he’s been so important, and just the human being, but then also when you just look at the way he works at it, the production, and the things that he was able to bring to our offense last year, and even really some of the things that he worked through his rookie year. I think there’s a lot of similarities.”
McVay believes Williams will be a “great mentor” for Corum, and the Rams have the 1-2 punch they were missing last season.
Kyren Williams’ managers may have cause for concern with Blake Corum’s touchdown-scoring ability at Michigan, as he has scored 56 rushing touchdowns, the most in program history. Right now it sounds like Williams has the majority of touches in this backfield but fantasy managers shouldn’t be surprised to see Blake Corum come in the game near the goalline ultimately capping Kyren’s upside. This backfield situation will be something to monitor in the offseason as well as weekly, in the regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams have drafted former Michigan running back Blake Corum with the 83rd pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
The Los Angeles Rams have drafted former Michigan running back Blake Corum with the 83rd pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Corum helped lead the Wolverines to a national championship. Corum, who completely took over the Wolverine backfield in 2022, smashed in his 2 years as the starter, rushing for 2708 yards and 45 touchdowns on the ground alone.
Corum will provide the Rams with a great one-two punch with 2023 RB7 Kyren Williams. Not the most ideal landing spot for Corum and his fantasy outlook, as he will likely be a change of pace back his first season with the Rams.
Michigan RB Blake Corum posted the Combine performance we expected, but not the one we hoped.
Blake Corum is a National Champion. He’ll hang on to that achievement for a long time. His athleticism, however, was quickly overshadowed by other running backs at the NFL Scouting Combine.
Corum posted a Relative Athletic Score of 5.95. That’s not good. His 4.53 40-yard dash time was good, not great, while other participants flew past him. He also measured at 5’7″, shorter than we thought. Although his weight at 205 pounds does place him in the realm of a successful RB in terms of his BMI, the height and weight placed him in the “poor” category for RAS.
Corum’s RAS likely won’t affect his draft position, but some analysts have him as the RB1 in the class, and his Combine performance did not justify that ranking. Corum will still be drafted on Day 2 of the NFL Draft, and is still in the Top 5 of this RB class.
